Literature Production Centres at Papunya and Strelley published hundreds of illustrated books from the 1970s to 1990s, telling stories of first contact, the Dreaming and twentieth century life on pastoral stations, the formation of communities, bush plants and animals and everyday life. The books were written and illustrated by Indigenous authors and artists on country, in their own languages and for their own community of readers. The stories of the development of Aboriginal literature in Aboriginal languages and the associated illustrations that give rich insights into remote Australia in a time of profound change are largely untold.
In this collaborative project with the Papunya Bilingual Collection Steering Committee, Papunya Tjupi Arts, Libraries and Archives NT and the National Library of Australia, we trace and celebrate the histories of these Literature Centres and the communities in which they are embedded, their authors and illustrators, contributing a unique dimension to the history of Australia, its art, literature and languages.
The project is supported by an ARC Discovery Grant to the University of Western Australia and University of Queensland (DP210103825, 2021-2024). Outcomes include community language material return and local access, a series of exhibitions and studies of illustrated books from the Papunya and Strelley Literature Production Centres.
Project memebers (external to UQ's School of Languages and Cultures)
Ms Charlotte Phillipus Napurrula, Papunya Tjupi Arts
Dr Darren Jorgenson, (Lead CI), University of Western Australia
Dr Inge Kral, University of Western Australia
